11 Fantastic Pop Culture References in the STRANGER THINGS Finale

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For almost ten years, Stranger Things has cleverly referenced popular culture, particularly from the 1980s. The final episode, “The Rightside Up,” continued this tradition. Here are ten of our favorite pop culture nods and hidden details we noticed in the series finale.

Rambo

When the group confronts Vecna in the Abyss, Nancy Wheeler (Natalia Dyer) sports a new outfit. The Duffer Brothers revealed that Sylvester Stallone’s look in the Rambo movies was the inspiration behind her attire.

Halloween: H2O

A frustrated Joyce Byers (Winona Ryder) ultimately defeats Vecna by chopping off his head with an ax – she’d simply had enough. This moment echoes Joyce using an ax earlier in the first season, and also strongly resembles a scene in Halloween: H2O where Laurie Strode, after decades of being terrorized by Michael Myers, finally finds the strength to confront him and deliver the same fatal blow with an ax.

Purple Rain

The 1980s classic album Purple Rain by Prince and The Revolution features prominently in the show’s finale, with two of its songs used as the characters escape the Upside Down. The timing of the explosion is carefully synced to the length of Side B of the album, beginning with “When Doves Cry” and culminating in the title track, “Purple Rain,” during a pivotal moment. Prince was known for rarely allowing his music to be used in movies or TV shows, particularly his most famous songs. However, his estate now has more flexible policies. Since the finale aired, there’s been a huge increase in streams of Prince’s music.

Stephen King

From the beginning, Stranger Things has drawn inspiration from both Stephen King and Steven Spielberg. However, the final season leaned heavily into King’s style, with numerous references to his work. For example, Vicki compared the Demo-Dogs to the terrifying dog from King’s Cujo. The Mind Flayer’s appearance in the Abyss was similar to the spider-like form of Pennywise from It. Mike’s storyline, where he grows up to be a writer, echoes the characters of Bill Denborough in It and Gordie in Stand By Me, both frequent protagonists in King’s novels. Even a beer sign in a bar scene – for ‘Silver Bullet’ beer – likely references King’s werewolf novel of the same name.

The Breakfast Club

Dustin’s graduation speech for the Hawkins High class of 1989 points out how the school is divided into different social groups – athletes, academics, and those considered outsiders. This strongly echoes a letter Brian writes to the principal in the ending of the film The Breakfast Club.

Montauk

During Hopper’s proposal to Joyce at Enzo’s, he reveals a potential job offer in Montauk, New York. This is a nod to the show’s origins: the Duffer Brothers initially pitched Stranger Things as Montauk. The original concept drew inspiration from the real-life, and often debated, Montauk Project – a series of alleged government experiments from the late 1970s and early 1980s. Even after the show’s title changed, the urban legends surrounding Montauk heavily influenced the first season.

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade

To help viewers understand when the show takes place, a scene shows the Hawkins movie theater playing Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. This detail confirms the events are happening in the summer of 1989. Considering this is a pivotal moment for the Hawkins A.V. Club and their friends, the movie title is a clever and appropriate choice.

Ghost

The Duffer Brothers revealed that Max and Dustin will be on a date soon where they’ll be watching the 1990 movie Ghost, which stars Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore.

Star Trek: The Next Generation

Season five of Stranger Things is set in 1987, the same year Star Trek: The Next Generation first aired. While not directly mentioned, the season finale of Stranger Things shares a striking resemblance to the TNG finale, “All Good Things.” Both endings feature the main characters gathered around a table, playing a game – Dungeons & Dragons in Stranger Things and poker in TNG. This creates a sense of closure, highlighting a game that’s been a consistent element for the characters. Both finales also offer a glimpse into the characters’ futures, adding a bittersweet touch.

Joyce and Karen’s Frantic Phone Call

A particularly clever moment in the finale of Stranger Things was a direct echo of the very first episode. In season one, Joyce Byers desperately called Karen Wheeler, worried about her missing son, Will. In the final episode, the roles were reversed, with Karen calling Joyce, this time searching for her son Mike. Thankfully, Mike wasn’t in any real danger – he was just feeling down and hiding on a park bench, not lost in another dimension.

Dungeons & Dragons Player’s Manual

As a huge fan of Stranger Things, I loved how the show wrapped things up! It felt so fitting that after all the Dungeons & Dragons references throughout the seasons, the ending credits played out like a page from the Dungeons & Dragons Players Handbook. Seeing those black and white illustrations as the credits rolled, especially with David Bowie’s ‘Heroes’ playing, really took me back – the ‘cover’ of the manual looked just like the old TSR editions from the ’80s. It was a perfect, nostalgic touch!

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2026-01-06 19:04